Yes, it's a thing, and it sucks. Here's how to cope.
By Priya Rao, Women'sHealth
For many women, hair is a huge part
of who they are—and that makes hair loss a BIG deal. Women's Health
looked at the main causes of hair loss in the March 2017 issue to help
you fight back against it. Next up: pregnancy hair loss.
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What it is: During pregnancy, you get a surge in
estrogen, which can cause your hair to grow like a weed. But about three
to four months after giving birth, the hormone plummets, which helps
send many follicles from the growth (anagen) phase to the resting
(telogen) phase at the same time—doctors refer to this condition as
telogen effluvium. This shedding can last anywhere from four to seven
months, says Fusco. And it's not always a zero-sum game: You can end up
losing more hair than you gained during pregnancy.
Related: Why Hair Grows from Your Nipples and Other Inconvenient Places
What it looks like: Most women notice loss all over,
but a significant indicator is a hairline that's further back from
where it was before you got pregnant, and—later—the appearance of
somewhat odd-looking baby bangs as your hair starts growing back in. (Create super eyelash volume with Good Lash Mascara from the Women's Health Boutique.)
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What helps: If you're breast-feeding, your options
are limited, says dermatologist Kathie P. Huang, M.D., codirector of
Brigham and Women's Hospital Hair Loss Clinic in Boston. Anything that
gets in your system could potentially be transferred to your baby (and
many treatments aren't safety-tested on nursing mothers or babies for
good reason). A healthy diet goes a long way, as do prenatal vitamins if
you have any pregnancy-related deficiencies, like iron, that could
hinder healthy hair growth. (Try adding these foods high in iron too your diet.)
If you aren't nursing, the OTC drug minoxidil (the only FDA-approved
OTC product for women) could speed the process, says Fusco. (Try Women's Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam, $30 for a two-month supply, amazon.com.)
It works by dilating the scalp's blood vessels, which may stimulate
strand growth. It takes about one month of use to slow shedding, and
around six months to get three inches of growth, says Fusco.
